Map Tracker...

Yikes. I have one of those little maps that tracks places where people read your blog... It's pretty pointless because it doesn't tell you who reads it, just where it is being read. I had no idea my blog was being read in all these places:

* Neumarkt, Germany (Em-Diddy? Mer? Is that you?)

* Aviles, Spain

* Indaiatuba, Brazil

* Klatovy, Czech Republic

* Santiago, Chile

If you are one of these people, leave a comment and let me know who you are. I like it when people read my blog. :) There is also one for Queens Village, NY. Who do I know who lives there? No idea... But feel free to read... 

A Little Gem:

PlaybillRadio.com

It's the best thing a girl like me can ask for... unlimited Broadway showtunes, all day, everyday. 

Today, I am loving...

My honey roasted pretzels.

The fact that I did not bring a coat or jacket to work.

The fact that I am wearing flip flops. 

The fact that it actually looks like day out of my office window.

This quote from the Kristin Chenoweth bio: "Because that's how New Yorkers are. People answer each other's prayers a million times a day in this city."

What I am listening to right now.

Hey, SJP... Where did you buy those SHOES?

Last night, Ashley and I got to attend the opening performance of The Philanthropist, starring Matthew Broderick. The play was funny, I enjoyed watching it, and I had great seats. There were some things about the play I am still not sure about but overall, I liked it. A shout out to Miss Kristin for getting us comp tickets!

After the show, I headed over to BB Kings for the opening night party. KLR was working for Roundabout so she got me a pass... which I didn't end up using. I think they all thought I was America Ferrera. Again. 

The party was fun. Lots of Broadway headliners were there. Of course, the cast of the Philanthropist was there, as well as cast members from Guys and Dolls and a few other shows. Kristin and I got to chat with lots of really interesting people in the theater industry and it was fun to hear their tips on how I need to switch careers and work with theater. I agree. 

After a while of eating delicious treats and like 7 Shirley Temples (FYI- Those are non-alcoholic), we saw Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker make their big entrance. KLR and I really wanted a picture with SJP but we didn't want to bother her. These pictures are part of Broadway World's photo coverage. I will post the two I took later on.

Opening night!!!

Opening night curtain call. Cast of the Philanthropist. MB is the little guy in the middle. 

Jerry Stiller

Sarah Jessica Parker, or SJP as we refer to her most often...

Her shoes were the talk of the night.

SJP and Matthew Broderick celebrating on opening night (photo from Playbill.com)

Ryan, KLR, Nick and me at the after party

Nick trying to get a picture with my camera and me looking squinty eyed while trying to figure out which camera to look at.

Why I Love Theater: Explained...

People often ask me why it is I love theater so much... Well, for one, I didn't grow up around it, so being here now and being able to experience New York Theater is a new thing for me and I love everything about it. Straight plays are fun because they really pull on the actors' training. In plays, they cannot rely on music or dancing to make their point. They have to do it on their own, and I have seen some great actors light up the stage that way.

Another reason is that theater creates magic. Shows like Wicked, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, etc. bring people into a different world. Aesthetically, these shows are so beautiful and different from the real world. There are other shows that are maybe more simplistic in set and costumes but create powerful messages if you really listen to the songs. This has been my experience with RENT and HAIR.

Of course there is the musical element... I don't know much about music, having never really studied it, but I can appreciate the fact that so many things go into creating these amazing songs. There are so many little melodies that often go unnoticed.

I think my favorite thing though is watching people take it all in. When I took my sister to Wicked, she was in complete awe. The same thing happened to Jeff. After seeing HAIR for the first time, Ashley told me that she hoped she would never forget the way she felt after watching that show. At Mary Poppins last night, I saw the faces of so many people light up with pure joy as Mary flew over the audience. And that's the thing... Even adults can feel this sense of complete joy.

So yes, that is why.

Cupcakes and Weirdys (I stole that word from Night at the Museum)

So yesterday, I needed to go drop off some stuff for Gavin at the Hirschfield Theater, so I just went to the stage door and walked in. I didn’t see anyone so I just kind of stood there for a minute and then this guy came out and this is what went down:

Guy: Can I help you?
Me: Yes, can you please just make sure Gavin gets this?
Guy: (Rolls his eyes) Just put it over there... Those better be no cupcakes.
Me: They’re not. (I promise, it wasn’t cupcakes..it was Broadway Impact stuff)
Guy: So you didn’t bring the cupcakes?
Me: umm...no
Guy: Riiiight....
Me: I didn’t!

And then I walked out. That guy probably thinks I buy cupcakes for Gavin every single day. I guess he gets a lot of cupcakes. Anyway... As I was walking down the street to go meet Anna Banana at Starbucks I was kind of laughing about it and this weirdy comes up to me. This is what went down:

Weirdy: Heeey. Let’s get together for coffee!
Me: ummm...no.
Weirdy: Are you sure?
Me: Yes.
Weirdy: Really, are you sure?
Me: Really, yes. Have a good night!


And then I booked over to 9th to the safety of my favorite Starbucks in the city...

I am not a cupcake kind of girl..

In fact, I can think of a really long list of things I would rather eat instead of cake. Like pineapple. Or kettle corn. Or shave ice. But yesterday, I ate a cupcake that rocked my world. If you live in NYC, you must go to Sweet Revenge (62 Carmine Street).  I had their peanut butter cupcake. It was seriously the best cupcake I have ever eaten. Way better than Magnolia and CRUMBS. 

I know, I know...

 I haven't blogged about anything in beaucoup de jours... but I will... Something good is coming. I just have to ask my blog readers, all three of you, to please vote for Mayo in Dancing with the Stars. 

 Tomorrow night they are starting a Professional competition during the results show. There are 6 professional dancers who will go up against each other to win the prize of becoming a new professional on the show next season. Among them is a fellow BYU grad, Mayo Alanen. The competition is based purely off of audience votes. 

Vote for him today! To read his bio click here

You can vote by phone during the show tonight and up to 30 minutes after. Or online until noon EST tomorrow. To vote online click

Don't Leave For Tomorrow What You Can Do Today

I found this in a Church talk while googling stuff for a translation project I am working on for a new business client. I thought it was random that "Wells Fargo Don't Leave for tomorrow what you can do today" pulled up a Church talk, but whatevs. Maybe I was meant to read it today. I remember listening to this talk by Elder Claudio R.M. Costa, but most of all, I remember this...

If I knew this would be the last time I would watch you sleep,
I would hug you tighter. I would plead with the Lord to protect you.
If I knew this would be the last time I saw you walk out the door,
I would hug and kiss you and call you back to hug and kiss you one more time.

If I knew this would be the last time I would hear your voice in prayer,
I would record every gesture, every look, every smile, every one of your words,
So that I could listen to it later, day after day.

If I knew this would be the last time, 
I would spend an extra minute or two to tell you, "I love you," instead of assuming you already knew it.

If I knew this would be our last time, our last moment, 
I would be by your side, spending the day with you instead of thinking,
"Well, I'm sure other opportunities will come, so I can let this day go by."

Of course there will be a day to revise things,
And we would have a second chance to do things right.
Oh, of course there will be another day for us to say, "I love you."
And certainly there will be another chance to tell each other, "Can I help with anything?"
But in my case, there isn't one!
I don't have you here with me, and today is the last day we have—our farewell.
Therefore I would like to say how much I love you,
And I hope you never forget it.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old.
Today might be your last chance to hold tight to the hand of the one you love and show all you feel.

If you are waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today?
Because if tomorrow never comes, you certainly will regret for the rest of your life

Not having spent some extra time for a smile, a conversation, a hug, a kiss,
Because you were too busy to give that person what ended up being their last wish.

Then hug tight today the one you love, your friends, your family, and whisper in their ears how much you love them and want them close to you.
Use your time to say,
"I'm sorry,"
"Please,"
"Forgive me,"
"Thank you,"
Or even,
"That was nothing,"
"It's all right,"

Because if tomorrow never comes, you will not have to regret today.
The past doesn't come back, and the future might not come!

Based on a poem by Norma Cornett Marek

Re-Inspired...

A few nights ago, I attended a CD release for Shoshana Bean/book signing for Kristin Chenoweth (famous for creating the roles of Galinda in Wicked and Sally in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, as well as some TV and film, including Bewitched, Pushing Daisies, Deck the Halls, Four Christmases, etc.)

Kristin didn’t sing, which was unfortunate, but it was interesting to listen to her give advice on how to keep going when the going gets tough. One of my favorite things she said was that you just have to have faith... In yourself and your possibilities... Then she talked about Wicked and how creating the role of Galinda was challenging for her. Who would have thought? She makes it look so easy. And then, my favorite, favorite piece of advice she gave was “Do something to re-inspire yourself.”  

And that made me think of how I am constantly surrounded by things that inspire me and I shouldn't take those things for granted and how I should use those things to get the things I want... Is that last sentence vague enough? 

SO props to Kristin for putting her life out there for all to read. I, myself, am pretty excited to read her biography. I got an autographed copy, of course. And a shout out to Shoshana who is a fabulous singer with an extremely creative mind. 

I have decided...

to revert to my high school days and reread the classics...

I am going to start with my all-time favorite, A Tale of Two Cities. Then I am going to read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights... and possibly even William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying... Sounds cheerful, no? We'll see about him. His stream of consciousness approach kind of drives me crazy.  Also on the list: Great Expectations, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, The Scarlet Letter, 1984, The Great Gatsby and Pride and Prejudice. 

 We all know how quickly I read books. It is ridiculous. So, leave me a suggestion. You know I'll get through these in no time. 

He's Genius Genius

Sometimes my friend writes the most beautiful things. Yes, I totally stole this from his Facebook notes. No, I don't care. No, I don't think he cares either. No, I don't care what you think about me stealing it. It's too beautiful to not share with everyone else.  It's refreshing when people see the world this way:

i have been transported. by some stroke of luck and after a year of waiting and annoying disappointment, i have been delivered here. 

to a place of openness and child-like wonder. to a sleepless night before, similar to the feeling i had before going to cedar point amusement park as a kid.

i am opening a show on broadway. and i feel like i have never done this before. i feel NEW.

i am so f-ing excited.

the old jaded version of myself, that i hadn't realized had crept in over time, has magically faded away. and i pray it STAYS away.

i am drinking in each moment with joy and gratitude. truly. 

and although, that old me, still feels a bit like he is walking a tightrope wire, somehow slightly fearful that some person will walk into my room and take all this joy away....

i will hug him, and tell him, "you can stay, but you should start smiling. cuz i'm not gonna stop."

HAIR. OPENING NIGHT. BROADWAY. 

i am 12 again and dreaming alive.

peace

g

More photographic evidence supports my claim...

that this baby is HUGE...